A survey of the educational system of the Philippine islands by the Board of educational survey, created under acts 3162 and 3196 of the Philippine Legislature.

8 EDUCATIONAL SURVEY OF THE PHILIPPINES

However, the use of these scientific tests and measurements in evaluating the work of the schools is only a part of the task of the Survey.
The tests contribute to and furnish a check on the judgments reached
by personal observation, inquiry, and by other types of research in
every field.
One other consideration should be pointed out in judging the work
of the Commission. It forms no part of the intention or obligation of
the Survey to pass judgment on individual teacher or administrator,
individual school, or on the provincial divisions of the whole system.
Educational tests can and should be used to form such judgments. But
this is a task for the general administration later on. The strength and
weaknesses of individual schools and of provincial systems can be readily
determined. When the too rigid uniformity of the present system is
mitigated, the use of such tests and measurements will be essential in
determining the efficiency and the value of different kinds of work.
The task, however, was to form a judgment of the school system of the
Philippines as a whole. A series of studies of a variety of situations was
preferable to a very intimate study of a smaller number. However, an
intensive study of typical situations was not omitted. But the observations made in a variety of provinces were cumulative and all contributed
directly to the formulation of the final conclusions. The uniformity of
curricula, of organization, and of teaching method throughout the Islands
made observations practically as continuous as if the Commission had
remained making them in a restricted area.
Much help has been requested and received from the Director and
the staff of the Bureau of Education. The accumulation of the information sought has required much time and effort. All of these requests
have been met promptly and efficiently. For this cooperation the Board
expresses its appreciation. Through the courtesy of the Director many
of the photographs reproduced in the report have been selected from his
recent annual reports.
The Board is fully aware of the great assistance that has been
given in making this study and formulating the report. It desires to
acknowledge the full measure of cooperation that has been extended
and expresses the hope that what has been attempted for the improvement of educational conditions in the Philippines may constitute some
return.
The Survey Commission has also had the assistance of several of the
personnel of the Bureau of Education and of expert calculators, draftsmen, and secretarial help from other departments of the Government.
The University of the Philippines loaned the competent service of a
member of the faculty of education. Some 30 or more of the students
of the College of Education gave valuable assistance in scoring the